Re: Workers abandon Japan nuclear reactor due to radiation...

[Guest guest]

It should be possible to rig something. During WWII there was a power problem in Seattle, Washington I think it was. One of the US carriers was in port so they hooked up the generators on board and powered much of the city until the power was restored.

I wonder if it would be possible to hack a diesel-electric locomotive into a generator, and hook that up to the plant.

[Guest guest]

An autonomous machine is a long way off, but NASA has been working on remote controlled systems for use on the space station. Some other systems could also be available such as tracked vehicles with remote control arms on it.

There are problems with this though. As you say, the lack of dexterity in the hands or whatever it has. Cameras are another problem because of the very limited field of view.

For the time being they'll have to make due with humans. Now, one would think they could make a fairly decent hot suit for such work. Something like a heavy vest for the torso and somewhat less on the arms. Protecting the neck and head would be a real challenge though. It would only be something to give them a little more time in the hot zone, though it would require those who might need to wear it one day to be held to a high level of physical fitness to handle the weight and still be able to work for any length of time.

Because their robots are designed to look pretty but are worthless in doing anything useful... they can't lift any substantial weight,have no dexterity, require weeks to program and can't adapt to the unexpected.Ender

[Guest guest]

It does not look like there is a railroad line close to the plant

complex, but a rail barge could possibly be used.The electronics

would require modification. A tug boat could also possibly work.

Perhaps in case of future disasters, the government could make an

arrangement where tugboats with modifications to enable a quick

conversion on site are subsidized, on condition that in a disaster,

the government can commandeer the vessel.

It should be possible to rig something. During WWII

there was a power problem in Seattle, Washington I

think it was. One of the US carriers was in port so

they hooked up the generators on board and powered

much of the city until the power was restored.

In a message dated 3/22/2011 7:20:42 P.M. Eastern

Daylight Time, Zoe700@... writes:

I wonder if it

would be possible to hack a diesel-electric

locomotive into a generator, and hook that up to

the plant.

[Guest guest]

" It does not look like there is a railroad line close to the plant complex, but

a rail barge could possibly be used.The electronics would require modification.

A tug boat could also possibly work. Perhaps in case of future disasters, the

government could make an arrangement where tugboats with modifications to enable

a quick conversion on site are subsidized, on condition that in a disaster, the

government can commandeer the vessel. "

There is no need. Helicopters install natural gas-powered generators on high

rise rooftops all the time. A portable generator that works on disel could be

flown in just as easily. A fuel truck could DRIVE up and power it.

Administrator

[Guest guest]

My point was that the Japanese robot you see in the media are closer

relatives to the animatronics you see at Disney World than to

practical working robots.

Being human shaped is not necessarily good thing if you want pick

stuff up and move it... U.S. based iRobot, that builds a line of

" consumer robot cleaning devices, " is sending a number of their high

end remote handling systems that look like little tanks. These are

used for tasks like bomb disposal and hazardous material handling.

The just remotely operated mobile handling systems not true robots.

The Japanese are trying to build " Mighty Atom " aka " Iron Arm Atom "

aka " Astro Boy. " But the really hard part, as Asimo demonstrates,

isn't the body it's the brain. AI isn't up to that task and may never

be. But in some of the Astro Boy mythos Astro embodies the " soul " of

his creator dead son, it's a good bet we'll see practical cybrogs

long before we see a fully autonomous robot or one that is self aware.

When you think about it Asimo does look a lot like Astro Boy doesn't he... :-D

Ender